Cognitive Health and Mathematics
Photo by Lucia Macedo on Unsplash
As I travel along this path of numeracy coaching, I am coming across more students with diagnosed or undiagnosed learning difficulties. In some children, the difficulties are quite pronounced or numerous, while for others, they are minimal or subtle. In any case, if there are some cognitive difficulties, it can manifest in poor results in one or more school subject such as mathematics.
While there may be a genetic basis for learning difficulties in some cases, this may not apply to all instances of learning difficulties. And often there are things that can be done to improve the learning platform for the child who has these difficulties.
Having experienced a complex health journey as an adult, I can vouch for the many factors that affect our cognitive abilities, for example in:- learning new things, memory, concentration/focus and I even noticed a change in my handwriting!
Mathematical processes need our brains to work at their best, like a well-oiled machine. Nutrition, medical history, lifestyle and environment can all enhance, or detract from, our physical and mental health. Sometimes there are non-genetic obstacles in these areas that are preventing the machine from working smoothly, such as nutritional deficiencies and accumulated toxicity. Some of those obstacles can be removed or reduced once they are correctly identified and addressed by an integrative/functional health practitioner who works in this space. The integrative/functional approach aims to find causes of, and contributors to, learning difficulties, through thorough assessment and investigation. Following this, recommendations are made in the areas of concern, and this is where the family often needs to work as a team.
If you have noticed issues with cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, attention or reasoning in your child, or if you notice that their school grades have been declining over time, consider taking them to an integrative paediatrician / medical practitioner or naturopath. These practitioners are trained to look into the factors that could be causing the situation or making it worse. It may not be a fast or easy process but it can be the start of an insightful and healing journey of remedy and relief––not just for your child, but also for your whole family. It could be that once some long-term changes are made in the areas identified by the practitioner, learning may become easier for your child.
Cognitive difficulties can also occur in adults but often we think that certain states are normal as we get used to them over time. In my experience, the journey of investigation and intervention is worth it and you might find yourself pleasantly surprised at what you discover along the way!
Below is a list of some of the Sydney-based health practitioners that work in this way.
Integrative Paediatricians
Formal diagnoses are done by a Paediatrician. Integrative/Wholistic paediatricians take into account a wider variety of factors that influence the workings of the brain.
Dr. Antony Underwood
Consultant Paediatrician
The Grove Health
Suite 11, Level 3
924 Pacific Highway
Gordon NSW 2072
Tel: 02 9491 8000
https://grovehealthpymble.com.au/our-doctors/
Dr. Shalika Shetty
Specialist Paediatrician
Nextpractice Genbiome
Suite 2
2 New McLean St
Edgecliff NSW 2027
Tel: 02 8311 2800
https://nextpracticehealth.com/locations/nsw-edgecliff/team/dr-shalika-shetty
Dr. Yoon Mei Ho
Paediatrician
Rozelle Total Health
579 Darling St,
Rozelle NSW 2039
Tel: 02 9087 4600
https://rozelletotalhealth.com.au/
Dr. Deborah Levy
Specialist Paediatrician
'The Waverley’ Suite 8, Level 2
79-85 Oxford Street
Bondi Junction NSW 2022
Tel: 02 9369 5757
https://thechildrensclinic.com.au/doctors/dr-deb-levy/
Naturopath/Nutritionist
Eliza Blackwood
Suite 45, 90 Mona Vale Rd (cnr Ponderosa Pde)
Warriewood NSW 2102
Tel: 1300 892 469
https://www.elizablackwoodnaturopath.com.au/
Integrative Medicine
Medical doctors also trained in nutritional and environmental medicine, some of which specialise in behavioural issues in children.
Dr Emmanuel Varipatis
Nature Care Health
Suite 501, Level 5
39 Chandos Street,
St Leonards NSW 2065
Tel: 02 9966 8666
https://drvaripatis.com/
MINDD Foundation
Metabolic, Immunologic, Neurologic, Digestive, Developmental conditions that often affect the mind.
https://mindd.org/about/
Please also note that there are educators, such as occupational therapists or special education teachers or psychologists, who are trained to work with children who have pronounced learning difficulties that are not being effectively remediated. You may consider discussing with them whether they can offer specific support strategies for your child's circumstances that are outside of the scope of a standard academic tutor. Below are some links that may be useful.
Learning Difficulties Australia
https://ldaustralia.org/
Occupational Therapy
www.occupationaltherapy.com.au/ot-role-in-supporting-children-with-specific-learning-disorders/
https://otaus.com.au/about
While there may be a genetic basis for learning difficulties in some cases, this may not apply to all instances of learning difficulties. And often there are things that can be done to improve the learning platform for the child who has these difficulties.
Having experienced a complex health journey as an adult, I can vouch for the many factors that affect our cognitive abilities, for example in:- learning new things, memory, concentration/focus and I even noticed a change in my handwriting!
Mathematical processes need our brains to work at their best, like a well-oiled machine. Nutrition, medical history, lifestyle and environment can all enhance, or detract from, our physical and mental health. Sometimes there are non-genetic obstacles in these areas that are preventing the machine from working smoothly, such as nutritional deficiencies and accumulated toxicity. Some of those obstacles can be removed or reduced once they are correctly identified and addressed by an integrative/functional health practitioner who works in this space. The integrative/functional approach aims to find causes of, and contributors to, learning difficulties, through thorough assessment and investigation. Following this, recommendations are made in the areas of concern, and this is where the family often needs to work as a team.
If you have noticed issues with cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, attention or reasoning in your child, or if you notice that their school grades have been declining over time, consider taking them to an integrative paediatrician / medical practitioner or naturopath. These practitioners are trained to look into the factors that could be causing the situation or making it worse. It may not be a fast or easy process but it can be the start of an insightful and healing journey of remedy and relief––not just for your child, but also for your whole family. It could be that once some long-term changes are made in the areas identified by the practitioner, learning may become easier for your child.
Cognitive difficulties can also occur in adults but often we think that certain states are normal as we get used to them over time. In my experience, the journey of investigation and intervention is worth it and you might find yourself pleasantly surprised at what you discover along the way!
Below is a list of some of the Sydney-based health practitioners that work in this way.
Integrative Paediatricians
Formal diagnoses are done by a Paediatrician. Integrative/Wholistic paediatricians take into account a wider variety of factors that influence the workings of the brain.
Dr. Antony Underwood
Consultant Paediatrician
The Grove Health
Suite 11, Level 3
924 Pacific Highway
Gordon NSW 2072
Tel: 02 9491 8000
https://grovehealthpymble.com.au/our-doctors/
Dr. Shalika Shetty
Specialist Paediatrician
Nextpractice Genbiome
Suite 2
2 New McLean St
Edgecliff NSW 2027
Tel: 02 8311 2800
https://nextpracticehealth.com/locations/nsw-edgecliff/team/dr-shalika-shetty
Dr. Yoon Mei Ho
Paediatrician
Rozelle Total Health
579 Darling St,
Rozelle NSW 2039
Tel: 02 9087 4600
https://rozelletotalhealth.com.au/
Dr. Deborah Levy
Specialist Paediatrician
'The Waverley’ Suite 8, Level 2
79-85 Oxford Street
Bondi Junction NSW 2022
Tel: 02 9369 5757
https://thechildrensclinic.com.au/doctors/dr-deb-levy/
Naturopath/Nutritionist
Eliza Blackwood
Suite 45, 90 Mona Vale Rd (cnr Ponderosa Pde)
Warriewood NSW 2102
Tel: 1300 892 469
https://www.elizablackwoodnaturopath.com.au/
Integrative Medicine
Medical doctors also trained in nutritional and environmental medicine, some of which specialise in behavioural issues in children.
Dr Emmanuel Varipatis
Nature Care Health
Suite 501, Level 5
39 Chandos Street,
St Leonards NSW 2065
Tel: 02 9966 8666
https://drvaripatis.com/
MINDD Foundation
Metabolic, Immunologic, Neurologic, Digestive, Developmental conditions that often affect the mind.
https://mindd.org/about/
Please also note that there are educators, such as occupational therapists or special education teachers or psychologists, who are trained to work with children who have pronounced learning difficulties that are not being effectively remediated. You may consider discussing with them whether they can offer specific support strategies for your child's circumstances that are outside of the scope of a standard academic tutor. Below are some links that may be useful.
Learning Difficulties Australia
https://ldaustralia.org/
Occupational Therapy
www.occupationaltherapy.com.au/ot-role-in-supporting-children-with-specific-learning-disorders/
https://otaus.com.au/about